Minister announces changes to Air Pollution Control Regulations

Minister of Environment and Conservation Tom Osborne today announced changes to the Air Pollution Control Regulations that will help reduce air pollution and improve air quality in the province.

"Government is committed to enhancing air quality and protecting human and environmental health," said Minister Osborne. "Strengthening our Air Pollution Control Regulations to meet a higher environmental standard demonstrates our commitment to addressing air quality in the province and taking action to reduce air pollution."

The new regulations include a limit on sulphur content in heavy fuel and an annual cap on provincial sulphur dioxide emissions.

"Changes to our regulations will see a two per cent annual limit on sulphur content in heavy fuel used in the province and a sulphur dioxide emissions cap of 60,000 tonnes per year," said Minister Osborne. "These new standards address some of our major sources of air pollution in the province and will result in a 20 per cent decrease in local sulphur dioxide emissions from 2000 levels."

The sulphur dioxide emissions cap and limit on sulphur content in heavy fuel come into effect January 1, 2005.

Minister Osborne said companies that release more than 20 tonnes of sulphur dioxide a year must prepare an annual report for government outlining fuel usage, fuel sulphur content and sulphur dioxide emissions.

The minister added that the regulations were developed after consultation with industry, and government anticipates full compliance. He said all companies must follow the same environmental standards and that provisions have been made for penalties for non-compliance.

"Government is committed to improving the standards under which industries operate as we move forward in our efforts to protect and ensure a clean environment," said Minister Osborne. "As a result of changes to our Air Pollution Control Regulations there will be less industrial emissions released into the atmosphere, thus reducing pollution."

The minister said there are also new standards for incineration, including a ban on open burning of such items as tires, plastics and treated lumber. The ban on burning, other than at a facility licensed by the minister, is effective immediately. The ban will extend to all waste disposal sites in 2005.

Changes to the regulations give government the authorization to establish vehicle emissions standards. "Many provinces are moving toward some form of mandatory testing for vehicle emissions," said the minister. "Our new regulations will allow us to introduce vehicle emissions standards in the future.

"Improving our Air Pollution Control Regulations is in line with government’s Blue Book commitment to a healthy environment and helping to achieve a high quality of life for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians."

He noted that other actions taken recently by government to show it is serious about addressing air pollution include signing a new national environmental standard which calls for the phase-out of teepee incinerators by 2008.

"In January, the Premier and I signed a Canada-Wide Standard for Dioxins and Furans from Conical Waste Incinerators. Newfoundland and Labrador is the first province in Canada to sign this important standard," said the minister. "Besides being committed to eliminating waste incinerators in our province, we have also shown leadership in being the first province to commit nationally to the phase-out of these incinerators."

Media contact: Sonia B. Glover, Communications, (709) 729-2575

Ministerial Statement

2004 05 25                                        2:00 p.m.